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SAKHARAM
KHANDE KAR (1898-1976) is
acknowledged as one of the all time
greats of Marathi literature. In his
literary career spanning nearly half
a century he published eleven
novels, thirty one collections of
short stories, six collections of
allegorical stories and fifteen
volumes of critical literary essays.
In 1941 he became the President of
the Marathi Sahitya Sammelan and
was later nominated a Fellow of
Indias National Academy of
Letters, the Sahitya Akademi in
Marathi literature.
Sahitya Akademi Award Citation
LIBRARY OF
SOUTH ASIAN
LITERATURE
Library of South Asian Literature
is an ongoing endeavour to publish
in English an eclectic selection of
some of the finest writings from the
rich diversity of South Asian
Literature. It attempts to bring
together
books
regarded
as
landmarks in their language, for
having won literary awards or
critical acclaim, or having been a
major influence in their genre,
creating a new narrative style or
simply representing an outstanding
writers art.
YAYATI
A Classic Tale of Lust
TRANSLATED AND ABRIDGED FROM
MARATHI BY
Y P KULKARNI
V S KHANDEKAR
www.orientpaperbacks.com
ISBN : 978-81-222-0428-5
Yayati: A Classic Tale of Lust
Mandakini V. Khandekar, 1978
Cover design by Vision Studio
Published by
Orient Paperbacks
(A division of Vision Books Pvt. Ltd.)
5A/8 Ansari Road, New Delhi-110 002
Printed in India at
Saurabh Printers Pvt. Ltd., Noida
Cover Printed at
Ravindra Printing Press, Delhi-110 006
INTRODUCTION
T
he story of Yayati had been on my mind
for 45 years before I got around to
writing it. When I read it as a child, I
must have been fascinated by the
mysteries in it, specially, the interesting
incident of the instantaneous exchange of
youth and old age! But why Yayati,
married to Devayani, falls in love with
V S Khandekar
1959
YAYATI
A Classic Tale of Lust
Yayati
King
of
Hastinapur,
married
Devayani, the daughter of Maharishi
Shukra, and her maid Sharmishtha.
Nahusha
King of Hastinapur, father of Yati and
Yayati.
Yati
Elder brother of Yayati who became
an ascetic.
Kacha
Sharmishtha.
[1]
In Indian mythology asuras were the nongods or anti-gods and feared as enemies of
the gods. Sometimes they are referred to as
demons, as in this story.
YAYATI
I
do not really know why I want to recount
the events of my life. Is it perhaps
because I am a king? Am I really a king?
No, I was a king.
The stories of kings and queens have a
wide appeal, in particular the fantasies
woven around their loves.
My life is also a story of love but, one
emulate Yati.
At your birth, a great astrologer
forecast your life.
What then did the quack forecast for
me?
I could see from her face that she did
not relish this remark. She was silent for
a while and said, Yayu, my son, the
astrologer said this child is destined to
great good fortune. He will be King and
will come by all kinds of pleasures. But
he will never be happy.
I laughed at this nonsense of the
astrologer. In the end I said to Mother,
Mother, later, if you wish, I shall marry
a hundred times but today, I am not after
love. I wish to show my prowess. I do
adventures.
The annual festivities of the deities of
the town were approaching. People from
far and near used to flock to the capital
to witness the celebrations. The capital
town of Hastinapur turned into a sea of
humanity. There were so many
attractions that the ten days of festivities
were soon over.
For the last day of the celebrations
that year, the army commander had
innovated an attraction. His idea must
have been to encourage the spirit of
adventure among his men. A steed of
fleetfoot was to be doped and let loose
in the circular arena. When the steed
broke into a gallop, the contestant was to
in a different way.
Alaka had grown up in the palace with
her mother. But till today, she had not
attracted me so much. Why should it be?
I reminisced we were playmates till I
was six. Then we parted. As prince, I
strutted about the palace, the town, the
court and the festive celebrations. She
was a maids daughter and hung back.
She ran little errands in the palace. I was
destined to be a king and a world
renowned warrior. She was destined to
be a maid in eternal service of
somebody. That is why our ways parted.
A heavenly fragrance intoxicated me.
My eyes were still closed. I slowly
lifted my right hand. Alaka was bending
indefinitely.
The region was alive with many
elephants and I decided to indulge in
elephant hunting. I had heard that wild
elephants go to the pond for a drink at
night. Once at midnight, I penetrated
deep into the forest all alone and
climbed a tall tree by the side of a pond.
It was an exciting experience. It was
pitch dark and you could not see even a
yard away.
There was great satisfaction in getting
an elephant under these conditions. I
pricked my ears for stray sounds. I had
heard that in drinking the elephant emits
a bubbling sound. I was straining to hear
continence.
He picked up one and ate it
nonchalantly. The small piece in my
mouth remained there. If I could have
gone out of the cave, I would have spat it
out.
Yati and I were brothers. But there
was a deep chasm between us. I could
see it clearly now. I was emboldened to
ask, How did you turn to asceticism so
young?
Renunciation dawned on me in the
hermitage of the same ascetic by whose
blessing I was born. Mother had taken
me to him. She was fast asleep but I had
dreams. I came out of the hut and
stealthily stepped across to another one
no time.
It was evening. Black smoke from a
cluster of trees ahead was coiling up to
the bluish sky. Its movement up was like
the graceful steps of a dancer. Birds
returning to their nests were twittering
sweetly. The west looked beautiful with
the glow as of a sacrificial fire. It was
as if pieces of cloud were being offered
to the fire as oblation and the birds were
chanting hymns like priests. Bird life
was returning to roost. I had not seen so
much colour even in the palace. I reined
in my horse. I was enchanted by their
song and colour in flight. A
multicoloured bird flew past me. I was
overcome by the temptation to shoot him
enjoined on me by my religion.
There is religious sanction to killing
in self-defence or to subdue evil. How
did this innocent dumb bird hurt you?
What harm has it done?
I admired his plume.
You seem to be an epicure. But
remember, He who gave you that quality
also endowed that bird with life.
I was annoyed and said, Such dry
sermons sound very well in a temple.
The boy smiled and said, You are in
a temple itself. Look, there in the west,
the lamp of this temple is getting low a
little. Higher up, you will see oil lamps
being lit one after another.
In appearance he was a common
service.
Can you name it?
Yes ... the soul.
I was taken aback when that night
Maharishi Angiras introduced the
ascetic to me. He was Kacha, the
leading priest of the sacrifice for peace.
He was the son of Brihaspati, the tutor of
the gods. He looked my age or maybe a
year or two more! I was surprised that a
selfless great rishi like Angiras should
make one so young the leading priest.
Love is no doubt blind, be it of mother
for child or of preceptor for disciple.
Kacha was also surprised when I was
introduced. My mother had impressed on
myself thus:
I lead the life of a warrior. The body
is my mainstay. I was taught to cultivate
it, to make it strong and well nurtured.
That is why I cannot prevail over
hunger. Kacha is different. An ascetic
may have thin limbs like dry brushwood.
But the limbs of a warrior must be like
steel. There is no derogation then, even
if I cannot prevail over hunger like
Kacha. Would Kacha be able to escort
the victory horse through Aryavarta? His
body is lustrous by virtue of his penance
and beautiful because of his youth. But,
for his life he would not have been able
to sling a bow and arrow.
life?
Man must strive to free himself of the
curse. The perception of the rest of the
animate world does not extend beyond
bodily pleasure and pain. Such
perception is given only to human
beings. It is by virtue of such perception
that man has risen above the animal
kingdom and is mounting the steep ascent
of civilised culture. He will one day
reach the peak, and he will be free from
his curse. Never forget that bodily
pleasure is not the principal aim of life.
Its principal aim is the satisfaction of the
soul.
He stopped there and said, May you
have a good journey and God bless you.
of her beauty?
Her eyes were cast down. How then
did she know that I was devouring her
with greedy eyes? For a moment she
looked up. It felt like lightning in a clear
sky. The enchanting smile and the dimple
on her cheeks I saw for an instant all
this in the intoxicating golden glow.
I looked again. Mukulika was looking
down. She was very near my bed. I had
not taken wine but intoxication was
coursing through my body. The next
moment Fathers words. Yayu, hold me.
I want to live, were humming in my
ears. I said, Has Mother directed that
wine is not to be kept here?
This is a peaceful retreat far from the
Mother!
Mother rushed in, followed by the
physician, the minister and the maids.
The physician put a few drops of syrup
into his mouth, which seemed to revive
him. He whispered to the minister, My
life is now uncertain. Show me once the
signet of my victory over Indra. Let me
die looking at it. One should die in the
halo of victory!
Mother was upset at his words and
was wiping her eyes. I did not know
how to console her. The Prime Minister
brought the signet.
Father said, Give it to me. He turned
it over and round and round and asked,
Where is the symbol of my prowess on
birth?
Would he be glad to be born as
Yayatis son? Is it possible? Perhaps
rebirth is only a poetic fantasy! Why did
I grow up into a youth? Why did I
become King? Where is the Yayati who
was equally attracted to the blooming
flowers in the garden and the sparks
flying from the sacrificial fire? Where is
that confident, fearless, innocent child?
I shall not today go near a fire to catch
the sparks. I now know that fire burns. I
shall not confide my secret to any bud. I
am conscious that it will open and perish
the day after!
Is knowledge a curse or a blessing
bestowed on man? Is youth which comes
follow him.
What in fact happened was quite
different. She grieved for a few days but
very soon thereafter took her place as
the Queen Mother and was looking after
the household and the affairs of the state.
She was active and seemed to take
interest in her new life. That her
happiness hung solely by my father was
a mistaken idea.
In this world everybody obviously
lives for himself. As the roots of the
trees and creepers turn to moisture
nearby, so do men and women look for
support to near relations for their
happiness. This is what the world calls
love, affection or friendship. In fact, it is
come to me.
Just then an insect put out the light and
there was a footstep outside. It must
have been the sentry.
I sent her away reassured but it was
clear that she was scared of her
gambling husband and his friend, the
black magician. No amount of
reassurance could dispel her fear
completely.
I had thought she would not come to
me during our halt the next night. But as
on the previous night she did, trembling
all over. All her subconscious fears
were tormenting her like ghosts in the
darkness.
That night, Alaka complained of
Mukulika.
While your father was lying on his
deathbed you had taken a wretched maid
servant to your bed in Ashokavan ...
That day when the Prime Minister had
sent Mandar through the underground
passage, at that time Mukulika was
standing by my bed and I had not had the
presence of mind to send her away
before opening the secret door.
My head was spinning. Is Mandar so
wicked? What had he gained by telling
Mother?
I wished to tell Mother of all that had
happened at Ashokavan without
concealing a thing, but shame kept me
back. However passionately I might
territory.
Kacha had acquired Sanjeevani! The
war had stopped! To me all this was
utterly insignificant. I was crying out
desperately to myself, My Alaka, where
is she? Where is the only sister of the
brother hankering for affection?
[1]
[2]
[3]
[4]
DEVAYANI
O
utside, it is spring. There is a gentle
breeze scented with fragrance, but I am
perspiring in my bed. Outside, the moon
of the fourteenth night looks like a huge
white lotus in full bloom. But my heart is
blighted like the withered delicate
parijat flower. Outside, the cuckoo is
singing in sweet wild notes. But in my
water.
When will this conflict of the
conscious and subconscious end? How
foolish, soft and blind is a womans
heart! Kacha has never even enquired of
me since he left. He had achieved
Sanjeevani on the plea of my love for
him and returned to the realm of the
gods. He was hailed there as a great
ascetic and hero! The mortal danger to
the gods had receded because of him.
Now he can claim any celestial beauty
of his choice. Why then should he
remember Devayani? Men are so
ungrateful! Wily, hard and heartless!
Like the birds in a fable, they fly away
with the net with ease. As for the
***
All of us girls arrived at the huge lake in
the forest. The blue sky itself seemed to
have descended into the lake for us to
of the Demons?
Yes. I would prefer you to be less
formal.
The King smiled and said. If I have
been of some service to Maharishi
Shukra today all the weariness of the
hunt will have vanished from me.
I put out my right hand. He took it in
his right and helped me out. He tried to
disengage his hand when I said, No, you
cant. You have taken my hand in
marriage.
He was taken aback. How is it
possible? You are a Brahmin and I am a
Kshatriya king! Such a marriage ...
There have been many such
marriages in the past, Your Majesty.
SHARMISHTHA
T
he hour has struck. One out of the two
hours has gone by! In the hour in that
short time I must make a lifes
decision. To be Devayanis maid or ...
Fathers note is lying there. His first
and only letter to his dear daughter! His
Shama had so far never gone away from
him! Where, then, was the occasion to
queens maid.
***
During spring festivities in the morning,
I said many things to hurt Devayani
which I should not have done. But how
could I help it? I had lost control over
myself, my tongue and in fact everything.
Was it my fault that she was born to a
sage and not a king? But time and again,
at every step she has obstinately striven
to establish that I am no match for her.
We may have been three or four years
old. The nurses had taken us out boating.
Devayani bent over the side and clapped
with joy, saying, Shama, see this pretty
wore it by mistake.
Does destiny have a hand in this
abnormal occurrence? Kacha came here
for Sanjeevani. He was our enemy. But
at heart I worshipped him for his
learning, his devotion and sacrifice and
his manner. I often wished I had him for
my elder brother.
Devayani never let me talk to him
freely or be natural with him. She was
jealous. But even his presence cheered
me up. I was happy with even a smile
from him. I recalled for days together an
occasional word uttered by him.
The demons mercilessly tortured him
to death three times. But everytime he
said, Some things, which are terrifying
her case?
I was just such a one. But I had come
to Hastinapur with all such dreams
turned to ashes. I was a maid to
Devayani. She had full authority over
me. Perhaps she will never let me marry
anybody anytime. Where the prospect of
marriage was doubtful the hope of a son
and his being heir to a throne how
could a maid like me entertain it? But the
palmist today
As the delicate red shoot of a leaf
sticks out from a grave covered with
black stone, the prediction stood out in
my mind! Sharmishtha, who had not shed
a single tear even at parting from her
parents, was now shedding copious tears
YAYATI
T
he first night of our honeymoon. In the
life of a husband and wife, the first night
is so intoxicating, so poetic and so full
of mysterious intimacy, that it is
something they have never experienced
before. The confluence of two rivers, the
kiss of the sky and earth no. Even a
great poet could not adequately portray
unbearable.
I had to spend my days in such
loneliness. I was hankering for a mate
all the time. I was looking for one to talk
to, to joke with, to confide in, to share
my unhappiness. I was looking for a
companion, who would not move even if
stung by a scorpion, lest I, who was
sleeping peacefully in her lap, be
disturbed. I was looking for a friend to
whom I could relate my golden dreams
and confess to my lapses. I was looking
for partner who could create confidence
in me that even if we did not get anything
to eat on this uninhabited island, we
would live on the honey and nectar in
our lips and if death came to take
was staged.
Urvashi was staying with Pururava on
certain conditions. Unknowingly, he
breaks the conditions. She, therefore,
leaves him. The king is distraught at her
separation and roves the world in search
of her. In the end he comes to a lake.
There he finds his beloved. The king
entreats her with all he can to return with
him. But she will not give in. In the end,
he is bent on suicide. Urvashi replies
thus, Do not throw yourself down the
precipice. King, remember one thing, it
is not possible to remain friends with
women for all time, because their hearts
are like those of wolves. With these
words she vanishes into the air. The king
name is Yati.
From behind the curtain came the
wail, Yati and immediately Mother
rushed out, in defiance of all decorum.
She had only to look at Yati. She could
not bear to see that terrible apparition.
She closed her eyes and collapsed to the
ground, with her arms outstretched
saying: Yati? My Yati?
DEVAYANI
s
I
Kacha an enemy from my earlier birth?
The whole ceremony had gone off well.
Kacha had parted from me pronouncing
a curse. On the pretext of the sacrifice, I
sent him an invitation to make him
realise that I was not the least bit worse
off for his curse. Now Devayani was a
ruling queen.
me.
A woman can instinctively read
passion in the eyes of a man. She is
certain from his avid eyes that he would
be an easy prey.
If it was Kacha, I would not have
dared even to say, Give me your hand!
Even if I had, he would not have given
it.
I was attracted to Kacha by such traits
in his character. I would not have given
him a second thought, if from the moment
he came into the hermitage he had
hovered round me, seeming eager to be
near me, or if I found him looking avidly
at me. But I never saw desire in his eyes.
There was no passion in his bearing.
da?
Suddenly I heard the sound of hooves
on the cobblestones outside. Was I
dreaming?
I opened the door and hastened out. I
had indeed heard horses hooves.
Mother had sent a messenger.
Agitated, the messenger asked me,
Has the ascetic come here?
I knew that Kacha was in the habit of
wandering far away into a quiet place to
sit in meditation there. As it was past
midnight, Mother must have sent the
messenger to find out if he had come
here.
I replied, No. Kacha has not been
here.
No, I dont !
I buried my face in his side and, Men
are so dense. You see, I am going to be a
mother, that is why!
It was only now that he saw it. He
paused and added, You will now be
craving for things, will you not?
Not will be. I am already.
Whatever it is, tell me and see if it is
not fulfilled in the instant.
I will tell you. My first wish ... Dont
read this letter of your friend again.
But ...
I will not have it. Like that hair of the
girl friend of your childhood which you
have kept ... in the same box if you like,
put this away too. In our dotage, we
Was it Kacha?
She said nothing. She did not smile
nor was she frightened. She just stood
there like a statue.
SHARMISHTHA
I
question:
years!
As soon as the chariot bearing Kacha
and the Queen Mother left for the Bhrigu
Mountain, Ashokavan became lonely.
How promptly after arrival at
Ashokavan he came from the guest
rooms to my room at the far end of the
building to enquire after me. I got up on
seeing him. He insisted again and again
that I sit down. In the end I said, Kacha,
Sharmishtha is no longer a princess who
can sit in your presence; she is now a
maid.
He looked at me very affectionately
and said, Sharmishtha, the musk deer
does not know that it secretes fragrant
musk. You are the same. You maybe
***
While Kacha had been in Ashokavan, a
kind of spiritual intoxication, brought on
by his earnest words had overflown in
me. But as soon as he left I came down
to earth.
I had revived my interest in drawing
when at the palace. Even here in the first
few days, I sketched every tree, every
creeper and everything else I saw. But in
a few days, even the variety in Nature
ceased to inspire me.
Memories which I had deliberately
discarded into the oblivion of the
subconscious stealthily crept out and
took possession of my conscious mind ...
door.
He pointed to the picture of His
Majesty and asked, Are you in love
with Yayati?
I stood there with my head hung. He
again said, You still have no confidence
in me. We know everything by inner
knowledge. Wait. I shall demonstrate it
to you. Is there an underground passage
leading from this room?
No.
There was a catch in one wall of the
room hardly visible. He put his hand to
it. A central piece nearly six feet in
height moved out, the entrance to an
underground passage. But there was
none in Ashokavan who knew of it. How
I have not.
I am the queen. If you defy me, you
will have to bear whatever punishment I
give you. I am going to hold court
tomorrow. There, I am going to charge
you with having an illicit liaison. There
you will have to establish your
innocence and purity.
I was terrified and my insides turned. I
resolved not to listen to another word of
Devayani and leave, come what may. I
ran to the door clutching Puroo at my
breast.
Where are you going? These words
of Devayani had me rooted to the spot.
They had the uncanny power of an
unscrupulous hypnotist.
YAYATI
D
evayanis first dance was over. Before it
died down, there was a thunderclap.
Even on our way from the palace to the
dance hall, the sky had been overcast
with dark clouds. I said to her, Why
didnt you detain Sharmishtha for your
dance? She smiled saying, I did press
her to stay, but she was not well. So she
whirlpool of thought.
I stood looking out into the darkness
with a blank mind for a long time:
In that darkness, I suddenly saw a
chariot on the road. The chariot was
headed straight towards me But the
wheels made no sound, neither did
the hooves of the black horses
yoked to it. I could distinctly see the
horses even in the darkness. I gazed
intently at them. I could not believe
my eyes. The chariot advanced
straight across and over the trees
and bushes in the garden, trampling
them down and came and stood
directly under my window. The
charioteer softly said, Are you not
wine as sacrament.
I wondered if I was dreaming. The
sage said, Your Majesty, you seek
peace of mind? There are many deities
at my command who can bring peace of
mind to you. Pray for anyone of your
choice.
He got up and walked away. I
followed him like one hypnotised. But
all the time I could not help feeling that I
was falling off a mountain peak, hurtling
down an endless dark precipice, which
light had never penetrated.
SHARMISHTHA
His
Majesty
had
not
dared,
Sharmishthas life would have ended in
the cellar. It is true His Majesty saved
my life. But how did he reconcile
himself to leaving his beloved
Sharmishtha to fend for herself?
Sharmishtha, I do not prize this kingdom
or its splendour. I want only you. If only
he had said this, I would have been
greatly heartened.
I would not have permitted him to
come with me. But that life-giving
message of love, couched in sweet
words, would have remained with me
through the thunder of clouds and the
crash of lightning. But such good fortune
could hardly be Sharmishthas.
allowed to grow.
On second thoughts I would reason,
You were once a princess. Were not
you later reduced to being a maid?
Alaka may not have blue blood. But her
love is genuine. Is the love of a maid and
that of a princess vastly different?
I was bewildered by the conflict in my
mind. But I did not have the heart to
speak to Puroo or Alaka about the
matter. Like the young, the elders also
feel constrained to say anything in such
cases.
***
Three more years went by. Puroo was
[2]
An inn.
DEVAYANI
T
he pitch darkness of the new moon night
seems poised to pounce on me. Looking
at the sky through the window, the stars
are twinkling as if in derision. There are
so many retainers in the palace, but they
are dumb. I am in a state as if flames are
ablaze all around and there is no escape.
This evening the messenger brought
my duty as a wife?
Is love something one can buy? Value
for value is the rule of trade. But life is
not trade. If His Majesty was going
astray, I should have pointed it out to
him. I should have convinced him of it. I
should have stood by him if he lost his
balance.
For a moment, maybe only for the
moment, I melted at this thought. I was
fidgety when His Majesty asked me,
Where is Sharmishtha? You devil, you
have taken her life.
He was coming forward. I was afraid
that he might strangle me. Soon His
Majesty was very near me. His intention
to strangle me was quite evident. I
companion?
Memories of the last eighteen years
haunted me. I was disheartened. The
Prime Minister had not returned. It was
clear that His Majesty was not prepared
to do anything to free Yadu.
***
A maid brought news of the Prime
Ministers return. He came in, hung his
head and was quiet. I asked sharply,
Why were you so long?
I could not get an audience with the
King for sometime.
I asked, In the end, did you or did you
not see him?
messenger.
I recognised the messenger as he came
in. He had come from King Vrishaparva.
Father had successfully completed his
penance. The demon kingdom was
festive. Father was coming to take me to
the festivities. The message said that he
would be here in two weeks.
A happy Devayani was consoling the
unhappy Devayani now. She said,
Today your penance has borne fruit.
You suffered very badly for eighteen
years. Now the worst is over. You shall
inform Maharishi
Shukra
about
Sharmishtha, he will immediately set up
Yadu on the throne and punish His
Majesty ...
I was in a trance:
I had visions of Yadu being
crowned as king. The sacred waters
of all the rivers in Aryavarta were
being sprinkled on him; and yet all
the priests and ascetics felt that
there was a flaw somewhere. In the
end, Yadu bows to me. My tears of
joy bathe his head. Father smiles
and says, Now the coronation is
sanctified!
In a moment, His Majesty is on his
knees before me saying, I am in a
hundred ways guilty of neglecting
you. Forgive me.
YAYATI
W
here am I in heaven or hell? Am I
really Yayati? The husband of
Devayani? Devayani! What Devayani?
Devayani is nothing to me. How can that
be? She is my sworn enemy from an
earlier birth. She has thrown me into this
hell.
Am I in hell? Oh no, for many years
course
of
my
pleasure
was
uninterrupted.
I heard Mukulika saying, It is almost
midnight, Your Majesty. I opened my
eyes.
I smiled at Mukulika. She came
forward quickly and dressed me in no
time.
***
I stood before the mirror. I was happy
looking at my full-length reflection. I
was handsome enough to be attractive to
any young woman. I looked as young as
Yayati bending over young Alaka to kiss
her.
the past.
In doing so, I got back as far as Alaka.
The Alaka of that glorious evening
with her golden hair I had not yet had
one with golden hair.
Mukulika quietly opened the door of
the bedroom. The girl got up from the
couch. She cast a luring glance at me and
sat down.
The maiden was beautiful like the
sculpture of an angel. I spread my arms
...
Just then I heard Mukulikas tremulous
hoarse words: Your Majesty. I asked
in irritation, What is the matter?
The Prime Minister is here.
I have no time to see him.
to do it?
Kacha was not born a recluse. He
loved Devayani with all his heart. He
put duty to his community before self. In
honouring that duty, he renounced love.
That sacrifice did not make his life
futile, miserable, or idle.
I had the happiness of a household in
the company of Devayani. I experienced
a glorious, noble love with Sharmishtha.
But I was not satisfied. I am still not
satisfied. And yet, Kacha, who is
unaware of the nectar of a maidens
luscious lips, is satisfied. Why should it
be so? Where did I go wrong?
Kacha wrote to me from this very
Ashokavan. I very much wish to read
my feet.
Seeing me come in, Devayani, who
was sitting on a couch, turned her head
in disgust. Maharishi Shukra was pacing
the floor in a rage. The room was going
round and round. I leaned against the
wall mirror and held myself up with
difficulty.
Maharishi Shukra suddenly stopped,
fixed me with his eyes for a few seconds
and then in great anger said, Yayati, I
have not come to you in the role of a
sage. Do you recognise me?
I nodded with trepidation.
Jeering at me, he said, You are under
the influence of drink and not in your
right senses. I am Shukra, the invincible
women.
Maharishi Shukra brushed her hand
away and said in anger, Devayani, you
are my all. But you are a fool. You do
not know the right time to do a thing.
Once before you lost me the power of
Sanjeevani by insisting on my bringing
Kacha back to life. I shall not spare
Yayati as a son-in-law. I must punish
him with something which he will
remember all his life ...
Devayani said to him sweetly, Setting
Yadu on the throne will open his eyes. I
have now no mind for any other
happiness in life.
I was burning inside at her
melodrama. But Devayani intended to
happen.
Yati came on purpose to see me,
knowing that I was ill in bed. I wanted to
get up to bow to him, but he would not
let me. He drew me in close embrace.
The hard-hearted, harsh Yati that I had
met in the forest and this loving Yati
what a contrast it was. I wished Mother
was here to witness this meeting of her
two sons.
I said to Yati, You are the elder
brother. This kingdom is yours. You
must take the throne.
He smiled and said, A deer skin is a
better place to sit on than a throne. Try it
and see. Yati had said it casually, but
his words sank deep. They germinated
Shells.